What's in a Sector? The Shifting Career Plans of Public Policy Students

Recent decades have seen a trend in which public policy graduates shun government and enter private‐sector employment. In part, the shift reflects changing sectoral opportunities, but its magnitude and consistency are puzzling—even troubling—in light of the need for public‐sector talent. Data from a two‐year series of surveys and interviews with policy students reveal that many begin their training with uncertain career goals and ambivalence about public‐sector work. Interest in government declines from entry to graduation, and it appears that the policy curriculum—heavy on analytic methods and conveying cautions about policy making—does little to promote a public‐sector orientation. Those planning to enter government are strongly motivated by a desire to have an impact, whereas those drawn to the private sector seek financial resources and professional development. Many anticipate fluid careers and choose positions expected to offer growth, a feature more commonly associated with private than public jobs.